By Zach Patberg
Both victims gave similar descriptions of their black male assailant — a description that fits that of Roy Williams, 32, who was apprehended Tuesday night and questioned in connection with the sexual assault, police said. A police source at the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows said Williams was arrested Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly robbed a bank at Hillside Avenue and 233rd Street.Just after 7 a.m. last Thursday, Sister Margaret Faherty, 69, was getting out of her car parked near the Immaculate Conception convent at Midland Parkway and Dalny Road when an armed man attacked her, hitting her across the face with a silver handgun before dragging her out of the gray Nissan Sentra and driving away with the stolen car, police said.Faherty was taken to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens and treated for facial lacerations, including a broken nose. Friends at Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School, where Faherty has been a media specialist for a number of years, said the nun was recovering from her injuries and had been released from the hospital.Police said Faherty was not dressed as a nun when attacked and the incident was not being investigated as a hate crime. A colleague at McClancy High in Elmhurst described Faherty as a tough woman who would not be intimidated by the frightening experience.”She said she could hardly wait to get back to work,” said the colleague, who had spoken with Faherty at the hospital. “She not going to let this interfere with anything.”A statement from the school's principal, James Carey, said, “we're very sorry for Sister Margaret and we're keeping her in our prayers. We hope the criminal will be apprehended shortly.” Only 24 hours before the assault and just blocks away, another women was robbed, then raped at gunpoint near Avon Road and Krugar Street, possibly by the same suspect, police said. The 34-year-old woman was forced at gunpoint to hand over her jewelry and cash and drive to Dalny Road and Radnor Street, where the man then raped her, police said.The woman was treated at Mary Immaculate Hospital. Police said they suspected Williams as the rapist and were looking into any connection he may have had with the attack on Faherty as well.Both cars from the two incidents were later found abandoned, police said. Williams, who is around 6 feet tall and weighs 195 pounds, was last seen driving a late model gray Nissan with a spoiler attached to the rear, according to police. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 800-577-TIPS.Reach reporter Zach Patberg by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
